Youth

CCA has worked extensively with court involved young people and "at-risk" youth, developing exemplary programs and services. Youth Services afford special care and attention to both rehabilitation and community safety.

The program for court-involved youth operates in two jurisdictions: Syracuse, New York and New York City. Referrals are initiated by law guardians, defense counsel, and the courts. CCA develops community-based, family-oriented plans for consideration by the court, tailored to meet the needs of justice, life circumstances of the individual youth, and the community.

For "at-risk" youth in Syracuse, CCA works with students in the 7th -12th grade in the Syracuse City School District’s alternative schools. These youth have been placed in an alternative school due to ongoing disciplinary problems, violent behavior or weapons possession. CCA provides comprehensive programming through school support and education services, youth development activities, mentoring, peer education and leadership development opportunities, and family/parent involvement.

Since Youth Services began in 1988, more than 2,500 young people have participated. The percentage of youth who have returned to court for any reason hovers between 15 and 20 percent per year. Not only are these services more effective, they cost a fraction of price of placing a child in an institution,- which can be as high as $90,000 a year per child — thereby saving the criminal justice system millions each year.